Kind-hearted Greggs workers and customers have raised a four-figure sum to help fund research into a rare genetic disorder.

Bakery worker May Cochrane’s four-year-old granddaughter Katie has Rett syndrome, which affects around one in 12,000 children, almost exclusively girls.

And several Greggs outlets, including those in Airdrie and Coatbridge, collected £1800 last month for Reverse Rett, a charity which aims to find a cure for the disease.

Little Katie, who is unable to walk or talk, was diagnosed with Rett syndrome in February last year.

The genetic mutation causes severe disability, including seizures, and has no cure.

Katie’s mum, Jennifer Cochrane, told the Advertiser she often has to return to her daughter’s nursery after dropping her off because she has suffered a seizure.

May Cochrane with daughter Jennifer and granddaughter Katie

The 26-year-old from Bargeddie explained: “Katie is such a bubbly wee girl.

“She gets frustrated at times as she can’t execute what her brain is trying to tell her to do.

“She can’t communicate with people and she’ll never walk because she can’t weight-bear.

“But despite this, more often than not she is smiling and content.”

She continued: “Katie started taking seizures about 18 months ago.

“They are caused by epilepsy which is a common side-effect of Rett syndrome.

“It got really bad around a month ago. I’d send her out to nursery as normal but by the time it got to 10 o’clock I’d get a call saying she’d had another seizure.

“There’d already be an ambulance there to take her to hospital by the time I arrived.

“She doesn’t foam at the mouth and shake violently – instead she goes very rigid and her eyes start to roll to the top of her head.

“They just totally floor her and it can take a while to bring her back to normal energy levels.”

Jennifer and daughter Katie

Katie, who also lives with her big brother James, seven, and mum’s partner Jamie, experiences the toughest of times every day.

The family built a sensory room in their home to ease her frustration and stress.

Jennifer revealed she can normally sense quickly if it’s going to be an easier day, or otherwise, for her daughter.

She said: “Sometimes she wakes up looking very pale, shakes quite a lot and isn’t in the best of moods.

“If it’s bad I won’t take her to nursery as it’s not worth it and I know the likelihood is she’ll have a seizure.

“But when the epilepsy and everything is under control it’s good.

“When it’s going well she likes to watch kids play and her favourite TV programme is Alvin and the Chipmunks.

“It has been hard as you don’t expect this to happen to your child and she can’t do anything for herself.

“We first noticed it when she was around 18 months old. She wasn’t reaching milestones and was forgetting things that she’d learnt.

“But we’re used to it now and we all love her to pieces.”

Last week Jennifer, Katie and May handed a cheque for £1800 over to former footballer and Reverse Rett ambassador Mark Reilly.

Mark Reilly with his daughter Dionne

Mark, who had a brief stint with Airdrie in 2002, has a daughter, Dionne, with Rett syndrome and said: “The fundraising is very necessary because the condition is so rare that there is no government funding for it.

“The amount raised is fantastic and will be a valuable contribution towards research into finding a cure for Rett syndrome.”

Jennifer added: “Greggs raising that amount of money is a huge help for the charity and I’d like to thank them very much for that.

“Hopefully one day they can find a cure or give the girls an improved quality of life.”